Arepo is a compromised community – NSCDC

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Ade Abolurin, on Thursday described Arepo in Ogun State as a compromised community.

Abolurin made this statement during an inspection tour of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation pipelines located in the area.

An explosion had occurred at the pipeline in the early hours of Wednesday after some suspected vandals engaged men of the NSCDC in a gun duel.

He said, “There are signboards which have been placed in this area to ward off persons from building their houses close to the pipeline but this warning has not been adhered to. Most of the buildings within the immediate vicinity of the pipeline have been built close to the swamp and this ought not to be so.

“This community is already compromised; anyone can easily come out from the buildings close by to siphon fuel. There is no way those living close by can say they are unaware of the activities of vandals.”

It was observed during the inspection that a pipe had been laid from inside one of the buildings in a neighbouring residential estate to the stream.

Vandals operate in groups of 20 – Resident

A resident of the community said the vandals who continue to lay siege to oil pipelines in the area operate in groups of no fewer than 20 men to vandalise and siphon fuel at midnights.

The middle-aged woman who refused to give her name spoke to one of our correspondents on Thursday.

She said, “I am into fishing and I have on a number of times seen them from afar on the waters when they carry out their illegal activities. They operate in groups of no fewer than 20 men with sophisticated weapons, including guns.

“It is not only this side that they operate from. They also come from Majidun, Ogolonto and other adjoining riverine areas. If security can be beefed up at those ends too, there would be a drastic reduction in the incessant incidence of vandalism.

While moving round the area, our correspondents saw eight 50-litre jerrycans with remnants of petrol in them in the swamp.

Emergency workers put out fire

The pipeline fire was on Thursday put out by emergency officials at about 11:25 am.

It was learnt that emergency officials from the Safety and Operations Department of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, alongside the officials of the National Emergency Management Agency could not contain the fire on Wednesday.

NEMA Zonal Information Officer, South West, Ibrahim Farinloye, told our correspondent that the fire, which was raging from three points on Wednesday later extended to 10 points.

He said, “The fire was however put out about 11:25 am on Thursday, while the blanketing and cooling of the area commenced immediately to allow repairs of the vandalised pipeline go on.”

Even with all due respect for the right of Nigerians to reside and associate where and as they please, the records of Irepo Community has become one of continous threat to the security of lives of other people and the economy of Nigerai to the point that not to take a decisive action is irresponsible. I suspect that Irepo is one of those communities that developed from the late 70s out of new economic growth and commercial activities. Even if it is a historical, traditional settlement, Irepo has demonstrated enough threat to the general security of other people to loose whatever right it might have to a place in civilized society. Government should take over the entire land space it currentl occupies and give residents there one tear to move away. There is so much we can do with the space plus that lesson would have been thought to other communities about their responsibilities to civilized society.

Praiz.

@Austin…you have spoken wisely. The Arepo Community of Ogun has shown that they cant live in a civilised world only a week ago they vandalised the same Pipeline and we yet to finish the discuss on that and yet again went on to vandalise another pipeline. its important also that all security apparatus in charge of monitoring and policing this public infrastructure should live up to expectation. its not too much to devote an helicopter to police Arepo 24hrs a day and a standby world class CCTV that can monitor all the event of the area for effective policing.

ayodeji

what are the relevant goverment agencies waiting for. the entire community should be evacuated, all the illegal buildings should be demolished. the annoying thing about our goverment at all levels is that they do not know how to use power. it is in situations like this that you weild the big stick

ogedemgbe

…… have you guys asked the community what it is they crave in destroying gov property? what their pains? who knowws if their farm lands are polluted, water no longer drinkable and other side effects that comes with pipeline running through their town. The whole Bayelsa and rivers should ahve been evacuated because of vandalism on the part of Niger Delta boys. Let us be reasonable for a minute. some idiots are in Abuja stealing away our resources at the xepenses of these people and you are still calling for their heads. Austin and Praiz where are youguys from? Ayodeji, oro ti e o jo mi loju! omo ale ni e!

afowowe chris

Don’t these vandals understand that their forces comes together cannot overcome Nigeria state as a whole. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps represents Nigeria. Stop these vandals before Nigeria stop you with your death.

Spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum, Senator Kabir Marafa, saying his colleagues passed a vote of confidence in Dr. Bukola Saraki’s senate leadership in order to spite President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress leadership.